Airflow UV Quarantine Method and Airborne Infection UV Quarantine Device

ABSTRACT

A respirator comprising mouth piece, at least lamp mount chamber, and at least one UV lamp. The mouth piece has at least one interface channel, such that air passage from outside the mouthpiece to the user&#39; mouth and nose is only allowed via the at least one interface channel. The at least one lamp mount chamber is sealingy joined to and in fluid communication with the mouth piece via the at least one interface channel, and has at least one opening configured to enable air passage from outside the lamp mount chamber into the lamp mount chamber. The least one UV lamp is enclosed in the lamp mount chamber, and configured to emit UV light and expose to the UV light the air traveling from outside the respirator to the mouth piece, thereby sterilizing the air.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 17/067,384 filed on Oct. 9, 2020, and claimspriority from U.S. Provisional Application 63/304,928 filed on Jan. 31,2022, both of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to UV quarantine systems applied for pandemiccontrol, disease control, pest control, and industrial goodmanufacturing practices. The UV quarantine systems remove microbes andairborne contagious agents, thereby supporting an air inaccessibledistancing code of practices for replacing social distancing protocols.

The SARS-CoV-2 (corona virus or COVID-19) is continuing to spread acrossthe world, with more than 10 million confirmed cases in 212 countriesand over 500,000 deaths worldwide as of June 2020. During thecoronavirus crisis, immunological solutions have been suggested, whichare limited to the range of acquired immunity (antigen-specificimmunity). Little is known or capable of handling with innate immunity(non-specific immune protection). The success rate of a vaccine isinversely proportional to its required innate immunity. This requirementmakes the effectiveness strongly based on age-dependence. Cancer is anextreme example of innate immunity as 100% innate immunity is required.This is attributed to not having an immunized external antigen.Therefore, reliance on only a vaccine against COVID-19 ismethodologically inappropriate.

For other vaccine intentioned illnesses with decreasing requirements toinnate immunity, certain demographics gradually adapt to theimmunological solutions. Ideal targets for immunization should beproblems that require: (i) less or zero innate immunity and (ii) asensitive acquired immune response. Innate immunity is stronglyage-related and results in immunosenescence. Thus, populations olderthan 65 years cannot be activated for immune protection by anyimmunological solutions. For the case of COVID-19, it is still unknownhow much innate immunity and how much adaptive immune responsesensitivity are required for a successful vaccine.

Additionally, the envelope of the COVID-19 virus possesses human cellmembrane ingredients that detach from a host organism. Thus, the proteinand ribonucleic acid (RNA) particle can be dealt with adaptive immunity.The envelope relies on innate immunity for counteracting infection,which needs further investigation to understand to develop a vaccineagainst COVID-19.

Further, a successful vaccine against COVID-19 is likely to make asubstantial number of immunized individuals into asymptomaticcoronavirus carriers. Asymptomatic coronavirus carriers are stillcapable of transmitting COVID-19 to other individuals. Complicationsfrom COVID-19 are not removed by a successful vaccine against COVID-19.

Due to technological difficulties in manipulating innate immunity indeveloping the vaccine against COVID-19, and the ineffectiveness ofsocial distancing, enhanced quarantines are needed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of some embodiments of the present invention relates to arespirator comprising a mouth piece, at least one lamp mount chamber,and at least one UV lamp. The at least one mouth piece us configured tobe sealingly joined to a face of a user and enclose a mouth and a noseof the user, the mouth piece having at least one interface channel, suchthat air passage from outside the mouthpiece to the user' mouth and noseis only allowed via the at least one interface channel. The at least onelamp mount chamber is sealingy joined to and in fluid communication withthe mouth piece via the at least one interface channel, the lamp mountchamber having at least one opening configured to enable air passagefrom outside the lamp mount chamber into the lamp mount chamber, suchthat air reaching the user's mouth and nose from outside the respiratorflows through the at least one opening into the lamp mount chamber, andfrom the lamp mount chamber into the mouth piece via the interfacechannel. The at least one UV lamp is enclosed in the lamp mount chamber,the UV lamp being configured to emit UV light and expose to the UV lightthe air traveling from outside the respirator to the mouth piece,thereby sterilizing the air.

In a variant, the UV lamp is configured to emit the UV light at awavelength between 220 and 320 nm.

In another variant, the respirator includes a power storage unitconfigured to store electrical energy, the power storage unit beingelectrically connected to the at least one UV lamp and to power the atleast one UV lamp.

In yet another variant, the power storage unit is configured to store8,000 to 12,000 mAh.

In a further variant, the at least one lamp mount chamber is removablyjoined to the at least one interface channel.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the at least one interfacechannel comprises one interface channel extending forward from a frontof the mount piece; the at least one lamp mount chamber comprises onelamp mount chamber.

In a variant, the at least one UV lamp is arc shaped or ring shaped andsurrounds an entrance from the lamp mount chamber to the interfacechannel.

In another variant, the opening is located on a front of the lamp mountchamber.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the lamp mountchamber comprises a chamber body, a UV shielding cover, and a coverholder. The UV shielding cover covers an aperture of the chamber body toform the lamp mount chamber. The cover holder is integral with thechamber body and configured to hold the shielding cover whilemaintaining a gap between the UV shielding cover and the chamber body toform the opening of the lamp mount chamber.

In a variant, the UV lamp is further configured to emit visible lightwhen on, and the UV shielding cover is configured to absorb at leastsome of the UV light and is transparent to at least some of the visiblelight.

According to some embodiments of the present invention: the at least oneinterface channel comprises two interface channels extending laterallyfrom the mount piece; the at least one lamp mount chamber comprises twolamp mount chambers, each of the lamp mount chambers joined to acorresponding one of the two interface channels; the at least one UVlamp comprises two UV lamps, each of the two UV lamps being enclosed bya corresponding one of the two lamp mount chambers.

In a variant, each of the two lamp mount chambers comprises a chamberbody, a UV shielding cover, and a cover holder. The UV shielding covercovers an aperture of the chamber body to form the lamp mount chamber.The cover holder is integral with the chamber body and configured tohold the shielding cover while maintaining a gap between the UVshielding cover and the chamber body to form the opening of the lampmount chamber.

In a variant, the UV lamp is further configured to emit visible lightwhen on, and the UV shielding cover is configured to absorb at leastsome of the UV light and is transparent to at least some of the visiblelight.

In another variant, at least one of the two UV lamps is U-shaped.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the respirator comprises atransparent face mask configured to sealingly cover eyes of the user.

In a variant, the face mask is integral with the mouth piece.

In another variant, the face mask is a discrete unit separate from themouth piece.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the respirator is shapedto reduce passage of the UV light from the lamp mount chamber into themouth piece.

In a variant, the respirator is shaped to eliminate passage of the UVlight from the lamp mount chamber into the mouth piece.

Another aspect of some embodiments of the present invention relates to amethod for ultraviolet (UV) disinfection comprises: irradiating with UVlight within an enclosed area with an infection UV quarantine device;shielding individuals within the enclosed area with UV shieldingtechnology; reducing airflow accessibility of airborne pathogens andrespiratory droplets within the enclosed area; reducing access of theindividuals within the enclosed area to the airborne pathogens and therespiratory droplets by killing airborne pathogens and respiratorydroplets within the enclosed area;

measuring UV exposure levels of the individuals within the enclosed areaby utilizing a UV meter; and wherein the infection UV quarantine devicecomprises a UV lamp and the UV shield comprises a radiation filter,wherein the radiation filters are composed of interchangeable parts.

In another variant, the UV lamp emits 240-280 nanometer radiation,wherein the radiation is germicidal to airborne pathogens and therespiratory droplets.

In yet another variant, the interchangeable parts are selected from thegroup consisting of: a UV radiation box, walls, and umbrellas.

In yet another variant, the radiation filter transmits visible light.

In yet another variant, the radiation filter blocks high-frequencylight.

In yet another variant, the airborne pathogens are COVID-19, Newcastledisease, measles, morbillivirus, chickenpox, Mycobacterium tuberculosis,influenza, enterovirus, and norovirus.

In yet another variant, the respiratory droplets range from 5micrometers and 1000 micrometers.

In yet another variant, 240-280 nanometer radiation travels up to 15meters from the UV lamp.

In yet another variant, the infection UV quarantine device and the UVshield are applied in GMP environments, food treatment environments, andagricultural greenhouse pest control environment.

In yet another variant, shielding the individuals within the enclosedarea with UV shielding technology comprises covering skin of theindividuals within the enclosed area.

In yet another variant, fungi in regions under nails of a foot aretreated with the infection UV quarantine device.

In yet another variant, the UV lamp emits 240-280 nanometer radiationfor 30 minutes.

In a variant, an ultraviolet (UV) quarantine device comprises: a UV lampconfigured to emit radiation for killing pathogens in an enclosed area;a UV shield configured to absorb high frequency radiation; and acontainment box configured to receive the UV lamp.

In another variant, the enclosed area is a public area for containingone or more individuals, a private residence for containing one or moreindividuals, food processing plants, and a manufacturing site.

In yet another variant, the UV shield comprises a respirator box andtubes, wherein the tubes are operatively connected to the respiratorbox.

In yet another variant, the tubes are bent or chimney-shaped.

In yet another variant, wherein the pathogens are E. coli, COVID-19droplets, and fungus.

In yet another variant, the UV lamp is an 8-watt variant, a 40-wattvariant, and a 60-watt variant.

In yet another variant, an enclosed area is 8 square meters when the UVlamp is the 8-watt variant.

Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent fromthe “UV partially shielding technology”, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the featuresin accordance with embodiments of the invention. The summary is notintended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely bythe claims attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention, in accordance with one or more variousembodiments, is described in detail with reference to the followingfigures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only andmerely depict typical or example embodiments of the invention. Thesedrawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of theinvention and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, orapplicability of the invention. It should be noted that for clarity andease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

Some of the figures included herein illustrate various embodiments ofthe invention from different viewing angles. Although the accompanyingdescriptive text may refer to such views as “top,” “bottom” or “side”views, such references are merely descriptive and do not imply orrequire that the invention be implemented or used in a particularspatial orientation unless explicitly stated otherwise.

FIG. 1 is a depiction of a UV shield, in accordance with the principlesof the invention;

FIG. 2 is a depiction of a respirator box, in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a depiction of the difference between the conventional UVdisinfection and the quarantine infection environments provided by theUV disinfection, in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a depiction of UV masks and UV hoods, in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a depiction of UV umbrellas, in accordance with the principlesof the invention;

FIG. 6 is a depiction of a UV radiation box, in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a depiction of face coverings, in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a depiction of surface tension region in aerosol and dropletparticles, in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a depiction of agar capturing, spraying, and illumination, inaccordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a respirator with a single lamp mountchamber, according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the respirator of FIG. 10,according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are photographs of a prototype respirator according tothe principles of FIGS. 10 and 11, as worn by a user;

FIG. 14 is a front view of a respirator with two side lamp mountchambers, according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a top cross-sectional view of the respirator of FIG. 14,according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are photographs of a prototype respirator according tothe principles of FIGS. 14 and 15.

The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the inventionto the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that theinvention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and thatthe invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

From time-to-time, the present invention is described herein in terms ofexample environments. Description in terms of these environments isprovided to allow the various features and embodiments of the inventionto be portrayed in the context of an exemplary application. Afterreading this description, it will become apparent to one of ordinaryskill in the art how the invention can be implemented in different andalternative environments.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skillin the art to which this invention belongs. All patents, applications,published applications and other publications referred to herein areincorporated by reference in their entirety. If a definition set forthin this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with adefinition set forth in applications, published applications and otherpublications that are herein incorporated by reference, the definitionset forth in this document prevails over the definition that isincorporated herein by reference.

Historically, the spread of and infection by contagious agents (i.e.,pathogens) has been achieved by quarantining conventions. Thesequarantining conventions involve: masks, protective clothes, chemicalsanitation, and quarantining hospitals. These quarantining conventionsare associated with the following problems (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6).

P1: There is currently no efficient physical quarantine system to stopthe COVID-19 infection. Conventional quarantine system, which includemasks, protective cloth, chemical sanitation, and quarantininghospitals, are insufficient for stopping the spread of COVID-19.

P2: Social distancing rules are an inefficient way to stopping thespread of COVID-19, which is an airborne pathogen.

P3: The application of chemicals is a higher cost, lower efficiencysolution to deal with airborne infection. The application of chemicalsadversely impacts the environment.

P4: A vaccine is often perceived as the only way to stop the COVID-19infection. However, vaccine development requires large investment ofmoney and does not solve immunosenesence (i.e., the gradualdeterioration of the immune system brought on by natural ageadvancement). Thereby, no matter which kind immunization technologies isused, sufficient immune protections are not activated for most peopleolder than 65 years of age.

P5: Medicines for fungi foot (nails) are difficult to control and proneto relapsing (i.e., fungal infection returning).

P6: Good manufacturing practices (GMP) in food and pharmaceuticalindustries lack the application of UV disinfection. (UV radiation havebeen used widely in these two industries for certain processes. However,UV disinfections have never entered into the GMP standards.)

In contrast to quarantining conventions, the systems and methods hereinprovide the following quarantine environments (QE1, QE2, and QE3) via aninfection ultraviolet (UV) quarantine device: (QE1) a partial or fullyUV disinfected working environment within enclosed areas people on-siteuse; (QE2) UV protections for potentially exposed portions of humanskin, thereby avoiding exposure to UV radiation; and (QE3) airflowinaccessible distancing. Aspects of the infection UV quarantine deviceinvolve: a UV radiation box, a UV radiation wall, and a UV hood. In someinstances, the UV quarantine device may be constructed from some simplematerials or purchased from commercial replacements. Thereby, QE1, QE2,and QE3 can be achieved conveniently at non-expensively.

QE1, QE2, and QE3 include the following technological aspects (TA1, TA2,TA3, TA4, TA5, and TA6).

TA1: Airflow inaccessible distancing protocols provide sustainedquarantine and inoculation from microbes and airborne pathogens notobserved with quarantine methods. During social distancing protocols,there is a 2 meter distance between individuals. Distancing alone is nota suitable factor to focus on for halting infection. Small aerosolparticles can travel as far as 15 meters, or even 20-meters. Therefore,social distancing is ineffective at halting transmission of COVID-19,which can be a small aerosol particle or small droplet particle. Airflowinaccessible distancing is a protocol of the systems and methods hereinwhich provides advantages over social distancing. Airflow inaccessibledistancing is: (1) the disinfection of airflow, which can otherwisetransport COVID-19 or other small aerosol particles and small dropletparticles, by (2) the application of UV lamps and UV protection herein(e.g., UV hoods and UV radiation box (wall)); (3) the resultingelimination of all airborne pathogens in the airflow; and (4) thecontrol of airflow. The control of airflow which halts airflow alltogether can be achieved by plastic films placed in an enclosed areashared by two or more individuals. A complete halt in airflowcorresponds to zero chance of infection. However, a complete halt inairflow is difficult to obtain. Thus, enclosed areas in which airflowinaccessible distancing are applied (e.g., UV radiation spreading to 20meters from the UV lamp) become airflow inaccessible places. Airflowinaccessible places are regions spanning 20 meters from the UV lampsthat are 100% free of pathogens in the airflow.

TA2: UV disinfection technology kills and thereby eradicate microbes andairborne pathogens, such as COVID-19, within enclosed areas.

TA3: UV shield technology (e.g., UV hoods, UV radiation box, UVradiation wall, and umbrellas) is utilized by individuals in an enclosedarea, thereby protecting the individuals in the enclosed area fromexposure to the UV radiation. A radiation filter absorbs and dissipatesUV radiation but allows visible light to be transmitted.

TA4: UVC 254 nm strength measuring instrument (e.g., UV meter only)evaluates the functional time of UV lamps and efficacy of the UV shieldtechnology at protecting the individuals from harmful levels of UVexposure in the enclosed area.

TA5: Petri dishes are used for airborne microbial capture technology andevaluation of COVID-19 infection. E. coli has been used as an indicatorfor bio-contaminants for over a century. E. coli spray is used tosimulate COVID-19 or other airborne microbes.

TA6: The application of photo radiation laser beam location is used forUV radiation boxes.

Quarantine Implementation Aspects (QIA) are applied within QE1, QE2, andQE3 to provide technical solutions which address P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, andP6.

QIA 1: UV disinfection has been applied for more than one century.However, people always operate the disinfection process while people areabsent from a congregating region. In contrast, QIA 1 is implementedwhen (i) people are inside the congregating region and (ii) UVprotection via UV shielding technology is used for public healthrequirements.

QIA 2: UV disinfection has been applied for more than one century.Diverse materials are used that allow visible lights through, whileshielding off UV wavelengths. UV hoods for welders have also existed fordecades, albeit in lower production. The systems and methods hereininvolve a combination of (1) UV hoods, (2) UV disinfection, and (3)materials which allow visible lights through and shield off UV light.The combination of 1, 2, and 3 disinfects the airborne contagiousagents, thereby stopping airborne pathogens and microbial, especiallyCOVID-19, from accumulating in the congregating region (e.g., a publicarea).

QIA 3: The materials of combination 3 provide convenient UV protection(i.e., a shielding effect) via the UV radiation box (wall), UV hood,etc., with various materials such as cardboard, clothes, wood, plastic,metal, umbrella, and any non-transparent materials. The shape of the UVprotection can be varied to modify the shielding effect. UV hood can beexpensive and cannot be readily self-made. Thus, the production of UVhoods is comparatively low and only used for welders. If there isincreased use of UV hoods, shortages may result. As a precaution for thepossible shortage, UV radiation boxes, UV radiation walls, and UVumbrellas are used in combination to provide the same level of safetyfrom UV exposure, while killing airborne pathogens and microbes, such asCOVID-19, Newcastle disease, measles, morbillivirus, chickenpox,Mycobacterium tuberculosis, influenza, enterovirus, and norovirus.

QIA 4: To evaluate the safety of these self-made or commerciallypurchased replacement products, a UV meter or similar (portable ornon-portable) is used to test the safety of the shielded effect. Statedanother way, the amount of UV radiation within the enclosed area and UVexposure levels to individuals in the enclosed area are measured by theUV meter.

QIA 5: The transmission mechanism of COVID-19 and other microbes are notwell understood. Further, the transmission mechanisms among differentcontagious agents (airborne pathogens and microbes) may be variable. Thetransmission of COVID-19 is believed to be airborne by implementing a“airflow inaccessible distancing” protocol instead of a “socialdistancing” protocol. For example, a plastic film stops the airflowwhere the virus cannot penetrate the film of 1-millimeter (mm)thickness. However, airflow can transport COVID-19 viruses as to infectpeople as far as 15 meters (m) distance. Stated another way, airflowaccessibility is 15 m and individuals can be infected within the 15 m.Therefore, the critical factor effecting the quarantine and inoculationof the virus is decreasing airflow accessibility and not increasingsocial distancing.

QIA 6: UV radiation is used for treating Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis) incombination with the UV partial shielding technology. The combination ofthe UV radiation and UV partial shielding technology exhibit advantagesover chemical-based medicines (e.g., pharmaceutical agents).

QIA 7: UV radiation in combination with UV shielding technology is usedin food or pharmaceutical industries for GMP regulations.

QIA 8: UV radiation in combination with UV shielding technology is usedin agricultural greenhouse pest control.

QIA 9: Chemical sanitation for the inoculation of airborne viruses inenclosed areas, rooms, or hospitals used by a COVID-19 confirmed patientis infective. Thus, chemical sanitation is ineffective at fullycleansing enclosed areas (e.g., private rooms or hospitals) used by atleast one COVID-19 confirmed patient for subsequent use by otherindividuals. Chemical sanitation which has some effectiveness for hardsurfaces, is completely ineffective for small-sized aerosol particleswithin airflows within inside environments. High percentages of globalCOVID-19 casualties result from the incorrect use of chemicalsanitation, whereby residual microbes and pathogens of infectiousmaterials deriving from airborne viruses still persist. UV radiationkills the microbes and residual pathogens of infectious materialsderiving from airborne viruses present on enclosed areas (e.g., privaterooms or hospitals) used by at least one COVID-19 confirmed patient.Thus, the UV radiation of the systems and methods herein makes theenclosed areas (e.g., private rooms or hospitals) used by at least oneCOVID-19 confirmed patient suitable for subsequent use without spreadingCOVID-19. Stated another way, the residual microbes and pathogens ofinfectious materials deriving from airborne viruses are no longerpersisting in surfaces or the air.

When using the infection UV quarantine device, protocols can be appliedfor an air inaccessible distancing, in which airborne pathogens arekilled.

When using the infection UV quarantine device, UV radiation is impingingand irradiating utensils, equipment, or spaces, etc. for 30 minutes.

When using the infection UV quarantine device is used in private areasfor family or public areas, then UV radiation boxes (walls) are used andplaced in between individuals if than one individual is present in anenclosed area.

When using the infection UV quarantine device in enclosed areas that areseverely infected regions or frequently visited areas, UV hoods may beused with the UV radiation boxes (or UV radiation walls).

The infection UV quarantine device is validated as being safe and costeffective for public usage, as investigated on DH5-alpha (α) strain ofEscherichia coli (E. coli). Thereby, the infection UV quarantine deviceprevents the spread of all infectious agents, including COVID-19, inenclosed areas by UV radiation selectively quarantining, inoculating,and/or killing infectious agents without exposing human skin.

The infection UV quarantine device provides QE1, QE2, and QE3, whichapplies UV radiation for curing foot fungus or fungi underneath nails.This provides sustained therapeutic benefit in curing fungi overtraditional chemical treatments or pharmaceutical agents. UV radiationof the infection UV quarantine device can selectively contact the funguswith fungi killing wavelengths, without adversely impacting the healthof the human skin.

The infection UV quarantine device provides QE1-QE3 which can be usedfor: (i) killing pathogens in food manufacturing and agriculturalgreenhouses; and (ii) killing higher order organisms, such as insects,or scaring off vermin, thereby achieving pest control.

Technical solutions of the systems and methods herein to technicalproblems, as described above, provide airflow inaccessible distancing.

The UV hood of the systems and methods herein, as depicted in FIG. 1,comprises UV shield 115, mouth piece 120, lamp mount 110 configured forreceiving UV lamp 105, and interface125 which connects mouth piece 120to lamp mount 110. While UV lamp 105 emits 254 nm radiation from anyangle, UV shield 115 is able to: (i) transmit visible light through;absorb UV radiation; and reduce optical process which adversely impactan individual's eye by diffusing reflection, refraction,semi-transmission, and transmission of high frequency light. The UV hoodcan offer 100% safety for individuals to use under QE1, QE2, and QE3.Mouth piece 120, interface 125, and lamp mount 110 protect skinextending from the head to the neck of the individual wearing the UVhood. Within mouth piece 120 and interface 125, respiratory boxes withvent holes are operatively connected to chimney/bent tube extenders,thereby preventing UV radiation leaking, such as box 210.

As depicted in FIG. 2, respiratory boxes with vent holes on a solidsurface not operatively connected to the chimney/bent tube extenders,such as box 205, are prone to leak UV radiation into the UV hoods. Incontrast to box 205, box 210 is equipped with vent holes on a solidsurface with the chimney/bent tube extenders prevent UV radiation fromleaking in the UV hood from any angle.

Some variants of the UV hood of FIG. 1 are depicted in FIGS. 10-17. InFIGS. 10-17, the UV hood is in the form of a respirator 100, in whichthe lamp mount 105 is in the form of a lamp mount chamber 105, whichholds and encloses a UV lamp. Because the UV lamp is enclosed, there isno need for external protection against UV light. Furthermore, theinterface 125 is in the form of an interface channel 125 connecting themouth piece 102 to the lamp mount chamber 105. Moreover, the UV shield115 is replaced by an optional face mask 116, which is transparent tovisible light, but may or may not be configured to absorb UV light.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a respirator with a single lamp mountchamber, according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 11is a side cross-sectional view of the respirator of FIG. 10, accordingto some embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 12 and 13 arephotographs of a prototype respirator according to the principles ofFIGS. 10 and 11, as worn by a user.

The respirator 100 includes a mouth piece 120, a lamp mount chamber 105,and a UV lamp 117. The mouth piece 120 is configured to be sealinglyjoined to a face of a user and enclose a mouth and a nose of the userwithin a cavity 120 a. The mouth piece has an interface channel 125,such that air passage from outside the mouth piece 125 to the user'mouth and nose is only allowed via the at least one interface channel125.

The lamp mount chamber 105 is sealingy joined to and in fluidcommunication with the mouth piece 120 via the interface channel 125.The lamp mount chamber 105 has at least one opening 118 configured toenable air passage from outside the lamp mount chamber 105 into the lampmount chamber 105. In this manner, air reaching the user's mouth andnose from outside the respirator flows through the opening 118 into thelamp mount chamber 105, and from the lamp mount chamber 105 into themouth piece 120 via the interface channel 125. The direction of airtravel into the respirator is indicated in FIG. 11 via the solid whitearrows.

The UV lamp 117 emits UV light which illuminates air entering lamp mountchamber 105 before the air reaches the mouth piece 120 and the user'smount and nose. In some embodiments of the present invention, the UVlight has a wavelength between 220 nm and 320 nm, for example 253.7 nm.The UV lamp is located close to the entrance from the lamp mount chamber105 to the interface channel 125. In the example of FIGS. 10-13, thelamp is arc-shaped or ring-shaped and surrounds the entrance betweenfrom the lamp mount chamber 105 to the interface channel 125. Therefore,the UV radiation which exposes the air entering the interface channel125 from the lamp mount chamber 105 is high and is able to kill airbornemicrobes and pathogens. For example, if the radius of the arc or ring isabout than 1 cm and two UV lamps are used, which emit UV light at 253.7nm at 2.2 W, the radiation to which the air entering the interfacechannel 125 is exposed is over 3000 μW/cm². No pathogen can survive over0.1 s at this radiation level. Therefore, even moving pathogens insidethe lamp mount chamber 105 are killed by the radiation before enteringthe interface channel 125 and reaching the mouth piece 120. It should benoted that the number, power, and shape of the UV lamp 117 and thewavelength of the emitted UV light can be chosen according to therequirements of the respirator 100. It should also be noted the scope ofthe present invention encompasses respirators in which the location ofthe lamp mount chamber and the number of lamp mount chambers (withrespective UV lamps) may differ from the example of FIGS. 10-13.

It should be noted that the respirator is shaped to reduce or eliminatepassage of the UV light into the mouth piece. For example, the UV lampsis attached to the wall of the lamp mount chamber 125 that is closest tothe mouth piece 120. In this manner the UV light is absorbed orreflected by the lamp mount chamber 125, and prevented from entering theinside of the mouth piece 120.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a power storage unit 119(such as a battery) is associated with the respirator 100 and connectedthe UV lamp 117 to provide electrical power to the UV lamp 117. Forexample, the power storage unit may store 8,000-12,000 mAh. A powerstorage unit 119 storing 10,000 mAh can continuously provide power for12 hours to a pair of UV lamp which emits UV light at 253.7 nm at 2.2 W.In some embodiments, the power storage unit 119 is connected to the UVlamp via a wire long enough to maintain the connection when the userkeeps the power storage unit 119 in the user's pocket while wearing therespirator 100.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the lamp mount chamber 105is removably joined to the interface channel 125.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the opening 118 is locatedon the front of the lamp mount chamber.

In some embodiments, of the present invention, the lamp mount chamber105 includes a chamber body 105 a, a UV shielding cover 105 b coveringan aperture (e.g. in the front) of the chamber body to form the closedlamp mount chamber, and a cover holder 105 c integral with the chamberbody 105 a and configured to hold the shielding cover 105 b whilemaintaining a gap between the UV shielding cover 105 b and the chamberbody 105 a to form the opening 118 of the lamp mount chamber 105. Theopening may be a curved line, as shown in FIG. 10, but other shapes maybe used. The UV shielding cover 105 b is configured to absorb at least aportion the UV light from the UV lamp 117, to weaken the UV lightreaching a person located in front of the user wearing the respirator100, and therefore protect a person in front of the respirator fromexposure to UV light. In some embodiments of the present invention, theUV shielding cover 105 b is transparent to light in the visible spectrumthat is also emitted by the UV lamp, when the UV lamp is on. In thismanner, if the UV lamp is off, a person looking at the UV lamp fromoutside via the UV shielding cover is able to warn the person wearingthe respirator 100 if the UV lamp is off. The UV shielding cover 105 bmay include UV proof glass.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the respirator 100includes a transparent face mask configured to sealingly cover eyes ofthe user. The face mask 116 may integral with the mouth piece, or may bea discrete unit separate from the mouth piece (such as goggles, forexample).

FIG. 14 is a front view of a respirator with two side lamp mountchambers, according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG.15 is a top cross-sectional view of the respirator of FIG. 14, accordingto some embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 16 and 17 arephotographs of a prototype respirator according to the principles ofFIGS. 14 and 15.

The respirator 100 of FIG. 14-17 is similar to the respirator 100 ofFIGS. 10-13. In the example of FIGS. 14-17, the respirator 100 has twointerface channels 125 extending laterally from the mouth piece 120, twolamp mount chambers 105 (each joined to a corresponding one of the twointerface channels 125), and two UV lamps 117 (each enclosed by acorresponding one of the two lamp mount chambers 105).

In some embodiments of the present invention, the UV lamps 117 areU-shaped and are placed in the lamp mount chambers, in the vicinity ofeach entrance from a lamp mount chamber 105 to the correspondinginterface channel 125. The location, shape, and orientation of theinterface channels are chosen to decrease or eliminate the passage ofthe UV light to the user's face in the cavity 120 a of the mouth piece120.

In some embodiments, of the present invention, each of the lamp mountchambers 105 includes a chamber body 105 a, a UV shielding cover 105 bcovering an aperture (e.g., on the side) of the chamber body to form theclosed lamp mount chamber, and a cover holder 105 c integral with thechamber body 105 a and configured to hold the shielding cover 105 bwhile maintaining a gap between the UV shielding cover 105 b and thechamber body 105 a to form the opening 118 of the lamp mount chamber105. The opening may be a curved line, as shown in FIG. 10 above, butother shapes may be used. The UV shielding cover 105 b is configured toabsorb at least a portion the UV light from the UV lamp 117, to weakenthe UV light reaching a person near the user wearing the respirator 100,and therefore protect a person near the respirator from exposure to UVlight. In some embodiments of the present invention, the UV shieldingcover 105 b is transparent to light in the visible spectrum that is alsoemitted by the UV lamp, when the UV lamp is on. In this manner, if theUV lamp is off, a person looking at the UV lamp from outside via the UVshielding cover is able to warn the person wearing the respirator 100 ifthe UV lamp is off. The UV shielding cover 105 b may include UV proofglass.

As depicted in FIG. 3, the UV lamp, and UV shielding (e.g., UV hood)support QE1, QE2, and QE3. A UV lamp is emitting UV radiation, therebyirradiating environment 305 and killing microbes and airborne pathogenstherein. Conventional UV radiation disinfection processes (no UV hood)do not allow group of people 117 to go on-site as human skin or eyes areexposed to UV radiation. In turn, the UV lamp cannot be operated asdepicted in environment 310. Thereby, microbes and airborne pathogensare not killed and disinfection is not being achieved. In contrast toconventional radiation disinfection processes, group of people 112 isequipped with UV hoods, thereby: (i) protecting human skins or eyes fromUV radiation exposure and (ii) allowing people on-site in environment315, while UV lamp is emitting UV radiation, thereby irradiatingenvironment 315 and killing microbes and airborne pathogens therein.Environment 315 corresponds to a protocol for infection control inenclosed areas, such as stores and physical locations for conductingbusiness (e.g., office spaces and factories) which are located in publicareas and private residences.

As depicted in FIG. 4, an individual wearing UV hood 405 can be equippedwith an attached UV lamp (right) or without the UV lamp (left). UV hood405 can be used in an environment where the UV lamp on the ceiling emitsdisinfection radiation. The goggles absorb UV radiation and transitvisible light, thereby protecting the eyes from UV radiation and notobscuring vision of the individual wearing UV hood 405. UV hood 405contains a mouthpiece (with six breathing holes) and left and rightbreathing cartridges, which provide and release purified and disinfectedair, for consumption by individuals wearing UV hood 405. UV hood 405provides complete protection for the head and mouth regions of theindividual wearing UV hood 405 from UV radiation and pathogens. UV hood405 is composed of heat and UV dissipating materials, such that theabsorbed UV radiation does not accumulate as prevent increases intemperatures of UV hood 405. This guards against discomfort forindividuals wearing UV hood 405.

As depicted in FIG. 4, UV hood 410 covers the head and neck, whileexposing the face. UV hood 410 is composed of materials which can: (i)absorb UV radiation and (ii) be used in setup 415 where individuals canbe present nearby each other without a mask covering the mouth region.Stated another way, UV hood 410 in setup 415 allows individuals to beclose to each other in QIE1, QIE2, and QIE3. In setup 415, the twoindividuals, each wearing UV hood 110, are facing directions as to beperpendicular to each other. Wearable accessories can be used on otherparts of the body which can be exposed to UV radiation.

As depicted FIG. 5. alternative UV protection systems to UV hoods can beused. The alternative UV protection systems to the UV hoods 405 and 410.Dark-colored umbrellas in FIG. 5 can provide temporary protection fromexposure from UV radiation.

UV hoods 405 and 410 are composed of compensation materials (i.e., a‘counter-procedure’ plan on expected side effects) which: (i) allowsvisible lights through and (ii) absorbs and shields UV radiation. Theproduction of the compensation materials is lower than other types ofmaterials so shortages are possible. To counter this, the compensationmaterials are replaceable and interchangeable in case there areshortages in materials for constructing the UV hood in FIG. 1, UV hood405, and UV hood 410. Additionally, UV radiation box 505 (wall) can beused for such compensation applications, which kill microbes andairborne pathogens. Within UV radiation box 505 depicted in FIG. 6,paper covering 515 is underneath lamp 520. In the opened state of UVradiation box 505, foam 515, buttons 510, and seal 525 are viewable andlamp 520 emits radiation. UV radiation box 505 can be used in setup 503where the individuals are not wearing masks and are facing each other.The box and the arrangement of lamp 520 are able to emit radiation whichkills airborne pathogens, while absorbs UV radiation approaching theindividuals in setup 503. Thereby, setup 503 achieves QIE1, QIE2, andQIE3 for individuals within enclosed areas.

To validate the safety of self-made or commercially purchased UVprotection, a portable UV meter or similar device is used. As indicatedabove, UV levels in the enclosed areas and the amount of UV lightimpinging an individual are measured In combination of the UV meter withthe above, the quarantine of the systems and methods here exhibit: (i)facile implementation in publicly enclosed areas; (ii) highanti-infection efficiency (i.e., disinfecting a contaminated area within30 minutes); and (iii) maintaining disinfection within the enclosedarea.

Technical advantages of the airflow inaccessible distancing include aquarantining effect (i.e., isolating pathogens) and an inoculatingeffect (i.e., reducing properties leading to infection) against: (i)small sized aerosol and droplet particles implicated in the spread ofinfection; and (ii) populations of particles implicated in the spread ofinfection, which are stabilized in the airflow. The size of small sizedaerosol particle is <10 μm. The size of droplets is >10 μm. Further, thequarantining effect and the inoculating effect can be applied againstliquid particles, solid ingredients, sticky materials, and complexbiological systems (e.g. human saliva). Human saliva includes hundredsof bioactive ingredients, such as viral RNA, DNA, envelop S proteins,antibodies, etc. The airflow inaccessible distancing, as provided by thesystems and methods herein, create a capturing environment forinvestigating small aerosols and small droplets for medical studies.This is contrast to other capturing environments, which are suited forlarge aerosols and large droplets.

Technical advantages of the airflow inaccessible distancing include aquarantining effect (i.e., isolating pathogens) and an inoculatingeffect (i.e., reducing properties leading to infection) against aerosolparticles generated by human engaging in speaking and normal breathing.The aerosol particles generated by humans engaging in speaking andnormal breaking range from 0.75 μm to 1.1 μm. This is smaller thanaerosol particles generated by humans coughing or sneezing, which are 5μm. Therefore, small aerosol particles, small droplets, and aerosolparticles generated by humans engaging in speaking and normal breathingare expected to persist longer in airflow and be transmitted furtherdistances than larger particles. Validating experiments are shown inTable 3, where E. coli spray viable colony counting increases to tenfolds as in and UV radiation of the systems and methods herein killthese bacteria.

Technical advantages of the airflow inaccessible distancing includekilling airborne microbes including COVID-19 viruses in the airflow ofpublic areas within the time scale of seconds, which correspond to humanspeaking, normal breathing, coughing, or sneezing. Validatingexperiments are shown in Table 3 and Table 4.

Technical advantages of the airflow inaccessible distancing includebolstering or supplanting chemical sanitation, which is widely usedeverywhere. Chemical sanitation is insufficient for aerosol disinfectiondue to mixing efficiency and decaying processes due to surface tension.The small size of the aerosols or liquid particles imparts challengesfor efficient mixing, as performed during chemical sanitation. Chemicalsanitation, for killing the COVID-19 viruses inside small-sized liquidparticles, is therefore ineffective, inefficient, or both ineffectiveand inefficient. In contrast, UV radiation of the systems and methodsherein are able to effectively contact the small aerosol particles orsmall liquid particles containing COVID-19 viruses within. The UVradiation disrupts the structure of the small aerosol particles or smallliquid particles. The protein sheath (or envelope) of COVID-19 isinitially weakened and subsequently breaks down by the UV radiation.This exposes the rest of the COVID-19 structure to the UV radiation,thereby denaturing the amino acid sequence (arranged in tertiary andquaternary structures) by disrupting hydrogen bonding motifs andinitiating free-radical processes involving hydrogen atom abstraction.Thus, chemical sanitation is not as efficient as UV radiation of thesystems and methods herein.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams maydepict an example architectural or other configuration for theinvention, which is done to aid in understanding the features andfunctionality that can be included in the invention. The invention isnot restricted to the illustrated example architectures orconfigurations, but the desired features can be implemented using avariety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it willbe apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional,logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implementedto implement the desired features of the present invention. Also, amultitude of different constituent module names other than thosedepicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally,with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and methodclaims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall notmandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recitedfunctionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.

EXAMPLES

Airflow inaccessible distancing, as experimentally validated by theinfection UV quarantine device applied on E. coli DH5a spray viablecolony counting simulation, is a safety upgrade over social distancing.In contrast to quarantining contagious agents via masks, protectiveclothes, chemical sanitation, and quarantine hospitals composed ofsystem elements, the infection UV quarantine device for airflowinaccessible distancing creates a partial or fully UV disinfectingworking environment within an enclosed area. The infection UV quarantinedevice and accompanying UV protections within the enclosed area mayinclude: (1) a UV radiation box; (2) a UV radiation wall equipped with aUV lamp; and (3) a UV hood. To protect against UV radiation, individualswithin the enclosed area utilize the UV protections to prevent radiationfrom impinging exposed skin of the individuals within the enclosed area.

Procedures which use the infection UV quarantine device and theaccompanying UV protections include: (i) 30 min UV disinfection forutensils, equipment, or spaces, etc., in enclosed areas (e.g., privatearea in use by families or public regions); and (ii) turn the UVradiation boxes (walls) on if more than one individual need to sharethem. In severely infected regions or high frequency visited areas, UVhoods of the systems and methods herein can replace the UV radiationboxes (walls) of the systems and methods herein for sufficientdisinfection.

The enclosed area in which the UV lamps and UV hoods are used may belarge public regions, such as supermarkets, libraries, large playinggrounds, airports, cinemas, etc. These large public regions generallyonly allow a small number of alternative UV protections. For the bestresults, individuals within the enclosed area use the UV hood of thesystems and methods herein.

STEP 1: Install or check the installed UV lamps in the enclosed area(i.e., a space or public region). In a room, a public region, or afamily region, based on the manufacturer's instructions, evaluate howmany UV lamps are required, how to distribute UV lamps, and whetherremote controls are suitable for the enclosed area. Generally, an 8 W UVdisinfection lamp can emit radiation as to irradiate an 8 m² space,including all of the utensils and equipment therein. Sometimes on-sitemeasurements are necessary. UV lamps that can be used are: (i) 8 watt(W) UV lamp without remote control, lamp and accessory (81 grams) and1.5 m line and switch (115 g); (ii) 40 W UV lamp without remote control,lamp and accessory (268 g) and 1.5 m line and switch (135 g); (iii) 40 Wdouble UV lamp with remote control and metal protect (541 g); and (iv)60 W UV lamp without remote control, lamp and accessory (372 g) and 1.5m line and switch (135 g).

STEP 2: Check the functional life of all UV lamps. If the radiation of aUV lamp is below 70% of the designed strength, then a replacement UVlamp is needed. For example, photo radiation laser location technologycan be used to determine if the UV lamp needs to be changed. The photoradiation laser location technology is for testing the mobility safetyof UV radiation box, UV umbrella, etc. The laser locator has a locatingdistance ranging from 5-20 meters. This is widely used in industrialprocesses. There are instances of UV radiation box moving. The movementscan correspond to angles which are not safe. The laser locator canpredict and assess the angles that are not safe. In a public region,there are many UV lamps. Some of the angles may be not be safe for anumbrella. The laser locator detects these unsafe angles for theumbrella. The umbrella is only used under urgent conditions of peoplelacking a UV hood. In contrast, the UV hood is safe at any angle.

STEP 3: Implement UV 30 min protocol for infection less severe region orUV ultimate method for infection severe region. For the UV 30 minprotocol for reducing infection in less severe regions, 30 UV radiationfor the region are configure and arranged twice daily, while individualsare not on-site. For the UV ultimate method for reducing infection inmore severe regions, all UV lamps of switched on. After 30 min,individuals are allowed to enter the region with a proper UV hood. Forthose who fail to bring their own UV hoods, a UV protection umbrella canbe used.

Example 1—Reviewing Conventional Quarantining Systems

To experimentally validate the infection UV quarantine device, criticalcontrol points of the conventional quarantine system—masks, helmet, andprotective clothes—are assessed. These critical points impose obstaclesin providing effective quarantine environments. As depicted in FIG. 7A,the area denoted with the dotted line can be defined as “naked skincontact margin”. The critical point which corresponds to the naked skincontact margin are regions of potential exposure to airborne pathogens.As depicted in FIG. 7B, regions of exposure can be found in the helmetdesigns, as denoted by the dotted lines. Particle sizes of viruses aresmaller than particle sizes of bacteria, and cannot be: (i) “filtered”by bacterial filters designed for particle sizes not less than 0.2 μmand (ii) subsequent vacuuming steps. Further, bacteria or viruses inaerosol or droplet form cannot be separated from an airflow viafiltering mechanisms. As depicted in FIG. 7C, advanced gas masks have torely on two prerequisite designs that are critical points which imposeobstacles in providing effective quarantine environments. These twoprerequisite designs are: (i) arrangement of features avoiding the virusinvading from the naked skin contact margin; and (ii) an active carboncylinder or similar device for the absorption of the viruses. Statedanother way, an absorption process instead of a filter can satisfy humanrespiration volume requirements, while removing the pathogens from anairflow. For those types of designs, active carbon cylinders must berenewed in a certain period after saturated. There is currently noexisting technology which is practical in replacing active carbondevices. The critical control points in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C can beattributed to insufficiency in stopping aerosol infection. Protectiveclothes must connect with advanced gas masks to avoid naked skin contactmargin leaking. Otherwise, the advanced gas masks easily lose theirprotective functions.

Example 2—Validation of UV Disinfection

Airflow inaccessible distancing, as experimentally validated by theinfection UV quarantine device applied on E. coli DH5a spray viablecolony counting simulation, is a safety upgrade over social distancing.

While global attention focus on COVID-19 immunological solution,vaccines may compromise immunosenescence and leave people older than 65years of age inactive to any immobilization. Additionally, socialdistancing provides fleeting effectiveness in quarantining the spread ofairborne droplets. The infection UV quarantine device involvesirradiating UV radiation in an enclosed area used in combination with UVhoods. UV radiation contacts and thereby kills the airborne pathogensand other pathogens residing on solid or liquid surfaces. UV radiation,which is continuously emitted in the enclosed area, is also shieldedfrom individuals wearing/using the UV hood. Segregation of contagiousairborne pathogens in this airflow inaccessible distancing environmentis thereby achieved, as validated in 10⁶ cell/ml of E. coli DH5a sprayviable colony simulation in a static room. As further indicated by theexamples below, the airflow inaccessible distancing environment codereduces the spread of the contagious microbes and airborne pathogens.The infection UV quarantine device is further validated by sprayingmethods. Portable UV 254 nm or Geiger counters can measure UV radiationlevels in the enclosed area to further ensure that UV radiation levelsare safe.

Example 3—Disinfection of Aerosol and Droplet Particles

UV disinfection is used in a variety of applications, such as food, air,and water purification. According to current evidence, the COVID-19virus is primarily transmitted between people through respiratoryaerosols (<10 μm), droplets (>10 μm), and contact routes. Airbornedroplets can persist in the air for several minutes. Smaller aerosols donot rapidly settle and can persist for longer durations to hours. TheCOVID-19 virus has been found to remain viable (i.e., activelycontagious) as aerosol particles for 3 hours. The COVID-19 virus is morestable as droplet particles on plastic and stainless steel, copper,cardboard, and glass. The duration of detection of COVID-19 on metal,cardboard, and glass surfaces are up to 72, 4, 24, and 84 h,respectively. The social distancing rule of 2 meters is thereforeinsufficient. Ventilation airflow complicates the infection routes. Thetransparent properties of droplets and aerosol make UV radiation, asprovided by the systems and methods herein, effective for contactingairborne COVID-19 aerosols and droplets particles and therebydisinfecting of enclosed areas.

Example 4—UV Radiation Preferred Over Chemical Sanitation

The infection UV quarantine device of the systems and methods hereinobviate the need chemical sanitation for airborne microbes. Theprerequisite condition for chemical sanitation is the mixture rate. Ifthe airborne coronaviruses reside inside aerosols smaller than 1 μm,then chemical sanitation may be suitable. Solution of chemicalsanitizing agents must be able to effectively mix or be in contact with<1 μm aerosol particles. In actual environmental conditions, thereexists complex electrostatic repulsions and surface tension amongairborne liquid particles which are <1 μm. The airborne liquid particlesless than <1 μm can reside in the air for months and still not condenseor precipitate.

As depicted in FIG. 8, the surface tensions are denoted as dottedcircles. Oscillation of the surface tension region (in the upper leftparticle) controls the stability of the air phase (i.e., aerosolparticle). Smaller aerosol particles are stable in the airflow unlessthe smaller aerosol particles are in contact with an entity with a largespecific area, such as human alveoli. When in contact with humanalveoli, the smaller aerosol particles diffuse rapidly into the humanalveoli. Petri dishes provide a suitable surface for capturing smalleraerosol particles. Thereby, there can be competitive binding between theagar of the petri dishes and the human alveoli surfaces. Two droplets(in the upper right particle) contact and combine with each other in theair, whereby surface tension forces stabilize the two droplets but makesit difficult to form larger mixed droplets. The center right particle isa liquid surface molecule which balances into inward facing forces,whereby surface tension forces establish dynamic thickness. The lowerleft particle is an inner liquid phase molecule or particle sending orreleasing balanced forces, whereby there is no surface tension (asindicated by the absence of a dotted circle).

The smaller the aerosol particle size imparts increased difficulty inmixing and contacting with a solution of chemical sanitizing agentsunder equivalent conditions, based on specific surface area ratios,surface tension, and electrostatic repulsion. The size of aerosolparticles generated by speaking and normal breathing is similar to eachother, ranging from 0.75 to 1.1-μm. The size of aerosol particlesgenerated by speaking and normal breathing are substantially smallerthan the size of aerosol particles generated coughing or sneezing, i.e.,˜5 μm. This means the aerosol particles generated by speaking and normalbreathing can stay longer, reach further distances, and spread faster inthe air than the aerosol particles generated by coughing or sneezing.These factors further make chemical sanitation effective at disinfectingthe enclosed area from COVID-19.

Individuals are able to see macroscopic particles, such as chemicalsprays applied in the enclosed area. COVID-19 aerosol particles aremicroscopic particles, thereby the chemical spray does not effectivelymix with the COVID-19 aerosol particles. Surface tension may lead to ahigher propensity for “elastic collision”, which precludes mixingbetween COVID-19 aerosol particles and the chemical spray. After thechemical spray dissipates in the enclosed area and when individualsbegin to use the enclosed area, the viruses inside the small aerosolparticles emerge again. A high percentage of global COVID-19 casualtiescan be attributed to reliance on chemical sanitation for airborneviruses or a room which have been visited or heavily used by infectedpeople. Stated another way, chemical sanitation is suitable for hardsurfaces and unsuitable for small aerosol disinfection purposes.Hospitals largely rely on chemical sanitation to disinfect enclosedregions containing COVID-19. Therefore, hospitals inevitably become thesecondary sources of infection or viral assembly site instead of a placecapable of removing the virus by virtue of chemical sanitation beingineffective at killing aerosol particles. Contrary to chemicalsolutions, UV radiation is able effectively contact smaller size viralaerosol and droplet particles and subsequently kill the contactedsmaller size viral aerosol and droplet particles. In Petri dishexperiments, UVC can eradicate bacteria in seconds.

TABLE 1 Direct UVC Exposure Time Required to Achieve Eradication (0%growth) UVC exposure duration Organism (seconds) Methicillin-susceptibleStaphylococcus aureus 15 (MSSA) Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcusaureus 10 (MRSA) Methicillin-susceptible, coagulase-negative 10Staphylococcus (MSCONS) Methicillin-resistant, coagulase negative 5Staphylococcus (MRCONS) Streptococcus pyogenes 5 Enterococcus species 15

For airborne status, there is no clear data for the UVC bacterialdisinfection since people never realize that there are significantdifferences between the germicidal curves on a hard surface and insideairflow for chemical sanitation, and the difficulty in the sampling ofsmall-sized aerosols for physical parameter assay. For COVID-19, theeradiation time is significantly less than those of bacteria under anairborne state. This makes UV radiation substantially more effective atkilling airborne microbes. Due to the difficulty of culturing and therisk of handling coronavirus specimens, E. coli DH5a suspension sprayssimulate the coronavirus transmission. This low-risk species is used asa bio contaminant indicator for food, water, and air. The industrialstandard is calibrated on notion that: (i) the increase of E. coliquantity in a sample is ascribed to the increase of certain targeted biocontaminant(s); and (ii) the decrease of E. coli in the sample isascribed to the decrease of the targeted bio contaminant(s). Viable E.coli colony counting is therefore used to calibrate the aerosolcontagious COVID-19 viral concentration to follow this canonicalstandard. Such a simulation is reliable as the guidance for stopping invitro COVID-19 infection. The results of the simulation are equivalentto those acquired from other methods, thereby reliably validating“airflow inaccessible distancing” protocol.

Example 5—Validation of the 30-Minute UV Radiation Pre-DisinfectionProtocol for Airborne Microbes

The 30-minute UV radiation pre-disinfection protocol is applied forenclosed regions (e.g., public areas of use and family rooms originatedfrom biosafety cabinet) and industrial cleanroom protocol which havebeen applied in research labs and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The30-minute UV radiation pre-disinfection protocol in public areas ofusage leads to virus eradication, whether the public area is used bysymptomatic or asymptomatic coronavirus carriers. The drawbacks ofchemical sanitation for small-sized viral aerosol particles due to themixture efficiency can be overcome by the application of UV radiation inenclosed areas. Additionally, the application of UV in enclosed areas isa facile technique for implementation.

For a typical enclosed area, such as a room in use by a family, a1-meter height center, a 2-meter, and a 3-meter circle on the sameheight plane are placed in a middle point of the room in the use by thefamily. On each circle, evenly distributed 5 sampling points are chosen.All of these sampling points are on a platform 1 m height from theground and 1.5 m lower from the 40 W UV lamps in the middle. All thesampling points need to be away from the ground, ceiling, wall, door,window, ventilation inlets or outlets, etc. by at least 1 meter. Above1-meter perpendicular of each sampling point, there is an 8 W UV lamp,such that there is a total of 10 sets of 8 W UV lamps on 10 samplingpoints. In all the experiments, the ventilation system is shut off. Theoperator uses sterilized protective cloth, hairnet, gloves, and shoecovers, while avoiding extra air turbulence.

Within 1 hour after 30 minutes of UV radiation, the sealed plates areprepared with LB (Luria-Bertani) agar on each point as depicted in FIG.7. The sealed plates are: (i) exposed for 5 min and 15 min duration atdifferent times of 20 minutes, 40 minutes, and 60 minutes after theendpoint of the protocol; (ii) incubated at 37° C. for 48 hours; and(iii) checked for colony counting with 5-10 times magnifying glass. (Iftwo or more overlapped colonies can be discerned, then count as thediscerned colony number.) CKs (group without application of UVradiation) has not used any UV lamps in a week and start from the sametime point (such as 10-am) as those individuals implementing the UVprotocol treatment.

TABLE 2 Static Validation of the 30 min UV Radiation Protocol in aTypical Family Room CKs: min after a point, no UV Capturing protocol*time colony counting (colony/plate) (min) (min) 0 Avg SD 2 m Avg SD 3 mAvg SD 20 5 17, 15, 17.4 3.65 15, 21, 17, 17.8 2.59 19, 15, 15.2 2.2822, 13, 16, 20 15, 13, 20 14 15 20, 21, 20.0 1.58 25, 23, 18, 21.4 2.8821, 26, 21.2 3.11 18, 22, 22, 19 18, 22, 19 19 40 5 15, 14, 16.4 3.4416, 15, 18, 18.4 3.21 17, 15, 18.0 2.12 13, 19, 23, 20 20, 18, 21 20 1518, 21, 18.8 2.77 20, 21,18, 21.2 2.59 24, 25, 21.6 3.05 18, 22, 22, 2418, 22, 15 19 60 5 18, 18, 18.0 2.55 22, 15, 14, 18.0 3.39 16, 18, 20.43.85 19, 14, 19, 20 22, 26, 21 20 15 16, 20, 20.8 3.27 28, 20,18, 20.24.60 22, 26, 21.8 2.86 25, 22, 16, 19 18, 22, 21 21

Treatments: min after UV protocol capturing endpoint time (min) (min) 0Avg SD 2 m Avg SD 3 m Avg SD 20 5 3, 0, 0, 1.4 1.95 0, 0, 5, 1.8 2.17 4,0, 3, 1.4 1.95 4, 0 1, 3 0, 0 15 0, 5, 4, 2.2 2.28 4, 8, 0, 3.2 3.35 2,0, 0, 0.6 0.89 0, 2 4, 0 1, 0 40 5 0, 0, 1, 1.8 2.95 3, 5, 0, 2.2 1.921, 1, 7, 2.4 2.79 1, 7 2, 1 0, 3 15 0, 2, 5, 4.4 3.51 8, 6, 7, 6.4 4.043, 2, 7, 4.2 3.70 6, 9 11, 0 9, 0 60 5 1, 1, 3, 1.8 1.64 5, 1, 0, 2.42.88 7, 3, 0, 4.6 3.21 0, 4 6, 0 5, 8 15 2, 4, 0, 2.8 1.92 7, 6, 0, 3.63.36 3, 9, 3, 3.8 3.27 3, 5 5, 0 4, 0 *** The room hasn't used any UVquarantine system for a week, choose the same clock time point with thecontrast experiment (with the 30 min UV protocol).

In Table 2 where there are treatments at 20, 40, and 60 minutes afterthe UV (disinfection) protocol endpoint in comparison to CKs, the viablecolony counting is performed at distances of 0 meters, 2 meters, and 3meters from the center. The implementation of the UV (disinfection)protocol leads to colony counts which are 10-fold less than the colonycounts for CKs. This means that 30 minutes of UV disinfection, asdescribed above, in a static ordinary room (i.e., the enclosed area)significantly kills most of the airborne pathogens and microbes. The UVlamps used during UV disinfection can kill 99% of surface bacteriawithin seconds. Laboratory and industrial cleanroom procedures are alsodisinfected by the UV lamps for 30 minutes. The survival rate of the RNAcoronaviruses is lower than bacteria and eradicated faster than thesurface bacteria.

Example 6—Dynamic Spraying Simulation

A commercial spray bottle is selected by checking if it can spray DH5aexponential stage LB broth into visually fine droplets. DH5a exponentialstage LB broth suspension from 250 milliliter (mL) flasks on a rotaryshaker is: (i) passed through an ordinary chemical filter paper first;(ii) adjusted by a Petroff-Hausser chamber to 10⁶ cell/mL; and (iii)sprayed, as depicted in FIG. 9. Each spray releases a 0.7-1.5 mLsuspension. As depicted in the center image of FIG. 9, the length ofliquid mark on the wall, as obtained by this spraying bottle, is lessthan 40 cm. The distance of the visual smog made by this bottle can onlyreach around 60 cm. This 60 cm distance is the maximum distance in whichmost large droplets from the spraying bottle can reach. By virtue of thepoor visibility or absence of visibility of small-sized aerosol anddroplet particles in the airflow, it is difficult to determinate thespeed and distance the small-sized aerosol and droplet particles in theairflow. Indirect methods are therefore used to simulate the distanceand speed of small-sized aerosol and droplet particles in the airflow.

As with the static validation for room and sampling point designs, 30min after the time endpoint of the UV protocol is implemented. Threetreatments, as listed in Table 3, include capturing without DH5aspraying, capturing with sprays not passing a UV box, and capturing withsprays passing by a UV box on the same colony counting method in staticroom. A spray bottle is applied 20 cm above the top of the UV radiationbox with a 30 W UV lamp shinning inside, while spraying horizontally toeach sampling point, as depicted in the right image of FIG. 9. Afterimplementing 30 min UV protocol and another 30 minutes, one horizontalspray is applied from the center to each sampling point. After 5minutes, plates at the same height are sprayed; captured for 5 minutes;and sealed for incubating.

TABLE 3 Dynamic Spraying Validation of 30 min during UV Protocol forMoving Airborne Infectious Agents colony/plate at 2 min colony/plate at3 m Capturing 5, 3, 1, 0, 1 2.0 2.00 2, 0, 3, 2, 0 1.4 1.34 without AvgSD Avg SD DH5α spraying Capturing 24, 21, 20, 17, 21.0 2.74 22, 19, 22,18, 19.4 2.61 with 23 16 sprays not Avg SD Avg SD passing a UV boxCapturing 7 , 9, 5, 0, 10 6.2 3.96 8, 11, 7, 5, 1 6.4 3.71 with spraysAvg SD Avg SD passing by a UV box

The results in Table 3 at 2 minutes and 3 minutes after 30 minutesimplementing the UV protocol are similar to the corresponding results inTable 2. Spraying treatment increases the average viable capturingcolony from 2.0 at 2 minutes and 1.4 at 3 minutes to 21.0 at 2 minutesand 19.4 at 3 minutes, respectively, when capturing without DH5aspraying and capturing with sprays not passing a UV box. The liquid markor smog produced by the spraying bottle can be visually achieved atdistances less than 60 cm, where the spray contacts the air, which maycontain airborne pathogens. At the sampling point at 2 minutes and 3minutes, only 5 minutes of traveling time is allowed. Colony countingsignificantly increased around to 10-fold. This is due to the attainmentof invisible small-sized aerosol & droplet particles, which ae similarto those described from other literature.

For sprays over the UV radiation box at 2 minutes and 3 minutes, averagecolony counting is reduced from 21, 19.4 to 6.2, 6.4 respectively. Thismeans UV radiation can kill the airborne microbes in the small-sizedaerosol particles of moving airflow. It is difficult to determine theexact speed of these small-sized aerosol particles due to rapid movementof droplets. Our simulation can show that: (i) these small-sized aerosolor droplet infectious particles do travel to viable there with a higherimpact and (ii) UV radiation can significantly kill these movinginfectious agents inside airflow under the experimental conditions.These experiments are performed for indoor space. For outdoorenvironments, windless public regions can exhibit similar results. Underbreeze outdoor condition, the wind parameters add to the complexity forUV disinfection protocol. Airflow can drive off aerosol coronavirus inan enclosed region and carry viruses to infect remote people undercertain conditions. Therefore, it is not plausible that the socialdistancing rule is safer for outdoor public regions than for indoorpublic regions. However, this result is enough to suggest the upgradingof the “social distancing” rule into the “Airflow InaccessibleDistancing” protocols. Also, this validation shows the UV radiation box(wall) is significantly effective. In our real application, UV radiationbox may be more acceptable than that of UV hood even if there areinstances of the UV radiation box being less effective than the UV hood.The UV radiation box can be used in less infected regions ascompensation for UV hood method.

Example 7—Validation of UV Ultimate Method or UV Hood Method

Within the enclosed area, a UV lamp is continuously switched on.Individuals within the enclosed area use UV hoods, on which safety istested by a high-resolution UV meter. Spray bottles, as used in Example6, are applied in combination with activated UV lamps in an enclosedarea. UV hood protections, which have been validated as effective inguarding against UV exposure by a UV meter with a resolution of 0.1 0.1μw/cm², are in use by individual(s) in the enclosed area. In the centerof the enclosed area, the spray bottle is applied spray 5 times with1-second interval to each sampling point. After 5 min of spraying, agarplates are opened for 5 min, thereby capture for each point at 0minutes, 2 minutes, and 3 minutes, similarly as above. The 0-minutesampling point represents the spray bottle location. Approximately 10seconds after finishing spraying each sample point, directly open five(5) agar plates and expose for 30 seconds. The colony counting isobtained as indicated in Table 4.

TABLE 4 DH5α Spray Viable Colony Counting for Aerosol Travel Distance at2 Minutes and 3 Minutes where the Designed UV Lamps are Switched on, toVerify the UV Ultimate Method Minutes after UV colony/plate lamp isturned on 0 min. 2 min 3 min  0 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 0, 0 0,0 20 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 0, 0 0, 0 40 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,0, 0, 0, 0 0, 0 0, 0 60 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 0, 0 0, 0

The result demonstrates that UV hood or UV ultimate quarantine methodscan 100% stop the infectious agent in the airflow, while the UV lamp isswitched on. Under these experimental conditions, the traveling distanceof even the most challenging small-sized aerosol particles is 0-meter.The only difference between the 30-minute UV protocol and the UVultimate method is whether people can go on-site while the UV lamp isswitching on. The 30-minute UV protocol only operates while no person ison-site. Therefore, the 30-minute UV protocol still offers sometraveling opportunities for viral aerosols. Also, the 30-minute UVprotocol is not as effective as the UV-ultimate method in preventing theinfectious agents from individuals after the UV radiation is switchedoff. The UV ultimate method where individuals put on (i.e., wear,thereby using) the UV hood within the enclosed area reduces travel timeof viral aerosol to 0 seconds. Therefore, the UV ultimate methodprovides complete effectiveness in killing infectious agents underalmost all conditions similar to public use regions. This shifts thesafety of UV protection from the infectious agent.

Example 8—Safety of Self-Made UV Hoods or Alternates to UV Hoods

The efficacy of the UV hoods in providing suitable protection can beassessed by portable UV meters. An individual is wearing a UV hood, andthereby shielded by a UV hood. A sensor may be attached to a sidewall inan enclosed area which faces the individual wearing the UV hood. Theentirety of the UV protecting area of the UV hood (i.e., covering ofareas of skin that are at risk for UV exposure) is assessed. If theradiation is below the safety threshold, then the radiation is safe toapply in the enclosed area.

The expected physical life of UV lamps is generally 8,000-16,000operating hours when the lamp is switched on once per day. The actualphysical life of UV lamps tends be less due to the frequent operating.Germicidal UV lamps generally define the UVC 253.7 nm radiation decay to70% as the standard for the end of the functional life time, as measuredin hours. The UV radiation strength is inversely proportional to thesquare of the distance parameter to the emission source. Thus, UV lampsare generally installed at less than 2.5 meters height for measuring thestrength decay, where there is a 1-meter perpendicular distance from theUV lamp. Stated another way, a portable variant of the UV meter measuresthe radiation performance curve or functional life of a UV lamp todetermine a resolution value or span. For example, the UV lamp in thesystems and methods herein has a resolution span of 39.99 μW/cm² to39.99 mW/cm². In other examples, high-resolution product UV meters havea resolution of 0.1 μW/cm². In alternate examples, a portable Geigercounter, which can be place below the slits, are used to determine aresolution value or span. In other alternate examples, the Geigercounter are oversensitive and generally detect environmental radiationbackground. The Geiger counters measure beta radiation ((3), gammaradiation (y), and part of x-rays from the surrounding environment. TheUV lamps are switched off to obtain the environmental read. The UV lampsare subsequently switched on after shielding to determine if there anyshifts in the environmental read. Any shift in the environmental readlower than 10% is deemed to be safe.

Example 9—Implementation of the “Airflow Inaccessible Distancing”Protocols via Plastic Films

Mask designs do not prevent the infection as the airflow still containscontagious agents. The infection UV quarantine device actively kills thecontagious agents in the airflow. When the airflow shuts down in, forexample, an ordinary 14 m²-retail store, airborne contagious agents areeffectively quarantined. This is a highly effective physical airflowquarantine for preventing the infection. The three employees in the 14m²-retail store do not use masks since there is a UV radiation boxinside the store. The coronavirus is carried by the airflow to be spreadinfection. The air exchange size of the 14-m²-retail store is restrictedto a small hole, thereby decreasing the chance of airborne virusinfecting individuals. Other individuals can visit the 14 m²-retailstore to purchase items at the plastic film covering windows and thehole located at elbow height. This arrangement of the plastic film andlocation of the hole reduces the effectiveness of the aerosol virusinfecting individuals. The plastic film is typically transparent anddisinfected on both sides with UV radiation. The plastic film is used incombination with: (i) a 30-minute UV radiation protocol before enteringthe store; and (ii) a UV radiation box, which is lit up, for healthyemployee.

Example 10—E. coli Verification of Airflow Inaccessible Distancing

E. coli spraying can verify the efficacy of the process in Example 9. Inthe spray experiment, a simple plastic film, which can stop airflow,also effectively stops any sprays from penetrating through the film. The“airflow inaccessible distancing” is reduced to zero beyond the plasticfilm. E. coli sprays cannot invade into the room unless directly sprayedfrom the hole and inside the store. Ventilation is on the roof, which issafe for in-store people to get breath air.) This simple plastic film,combined with the UV radiation box, is much more effective to preventthe COVID-19 infection than the conventional quarantine system.

Example 11—The Infection UV Quarantine Device in a Passenger Car

A passenger car uses a plastic film system to separate the drivers frompassengers, in combination with the infection UV quarantine device. Theeffectiveness of the plastic film system is still based on the “airflowinaccessible” principle. The average human respiratory rate is 30-60breaths per minute at birth and decreases to 12-20 breaths per minute inadults. An estimation of the residual volume is 18.1 ml/kg for infantsor a proportion of vital capacity for adults is 0.24 for men and 0.28for women. The “airflow inaccessible distancing” can be modified toconform to the individuals within the enclosed area as to not completelyobstruct the flow of air.

Example 12—Preparation of DH5a Suspension

DH5a suspension is prepared from the secondary inoculation exponentialgrowth stage culture with LB broth in a 250 mL sterilized flask on a37±1° C. rotary shaker. LB agar plates, the spray bottle, and quartzglass UV disinfection lamps are used in unison. More specifically, an 8Watt-UV lamp provides effective disinfection for a 12 m² static indoorspace, as validated by SGS. Portable UVC light meters and theGeiger-Müller counters measure radiation levels. Plastic films transmitUV radiation and do not change transparency.

Example 13—Preparation of Agar Plates

After collecting particles on agar plates, each agar plate is sealedwith a parafilm, incubated at 37° C. for 24 hours, analyzed for colonygrowth, and stored with the original seal in a refrigerator (0-4° C.).While in use, the temperatures of sealed plates are balanced. Thespraying bottle with 106 DH5a suspension leaves liquid marks on thewall. The length of this mark is less than 40 cm. The distance of thevisual spraying smog made by this spraying bottle can only reach around60 cm. This 60 cm distance should be the maximum distance in which mostlarge droplets from the spraying bottle can reach. The spraying bottlewith a tip is 20 cm above a UV radiation box loaded with DH5a suspensionfrom the spray bottle. Stated another way, the 106 DH5a suspension issprayed over the UV radiation inside the box against a dark background,thereby appearing as a shining reflection. The sprayed suspension onlyreaches a small range, while invisible small-sized aerosol particles canreach up to 3 meters. This UV radiation box is made from a cardboard boxwith the following dimensions: 33×44×54 cm and a thickness of 4.5 mm. Acommercial UV meter with a resolution of 0.1 μw/m² does not detect anyUV leaking wen directly attaching the sensor on the whole outside wallof the UV radiation box and the 60-watt UV lamps inside the UV radiationbox emit radiation. In other experiments, 30-watt UV lamps, explosionresistant safety glasses, and remote-controlled UV-lamps are used.

Example 14—Comparison of Infection UV Quarantine and ConventionQuarantine in a Public Area

Within an enclosed area that is 2×2 m² public area, there is a singlehealth individual and a single infected individual go in and out of thepublic area every minute over an 8-hour period every day. If the healthyindividuals use masks and protective clothes to prevent infection, thensome of the high impact masks or protective equipment need to resist8×60=480 infected people's aerosol and other touched surfaces. Touchedsurfaces may be not be sanitated properly, which increases thelikelihood of spreading injection. Masks are useless when individualsare too close to each other, even if the masks are disposable.Protective clothes are generally not disposable. However, the dailycleaning and changing of these protective clothes need complex equipmentand protocols that are generally challenging for untrained individuals.Therefore, long term use of protective clothing is also a risk. Theapplication of chemical sanitizers in the enclosed area is alsochallenging. Theoretically, each infected individual goes in and out,such that the enclosed area needs 480 rounds of sanitation. Rounds ofsanitation lower than 480 correspond to increased risk of spreadingcontagious agents. Also, chemical sanitation only deals withcontaminated surfaces, which is insufficient for aerosol contaminants inthe air. In contrast, emission of UV light in the 2×2 m² public arearegion for 8 hours is enough to prevent all the infection under the sameconditions. This is also cost-effective as the individuals use some sortUV protection (e.g., UV hood or UV radiation box) when moving in and outof the 2×2 m² public area region for 8 hours. UV protection, which costsless than quarantine clothes, is easy for people of varying skill in theart to implement. Thereby, the UV radiation and UV protection areeffective at stopping the infection.

The UV radiation and UV protection are able to achieve 100% efficacy instopping the spread of the injection, even under severe infectionemergency conditions. UV radiation with personal protection caneffectively replace routine precautions such as masks, protectiveclothes, chemical sanitation, quarantine hospitals, etc., under severeinfection emergency conditions.

Example 15—Infection UV Quarantine Device Applied in an Office Setting

A UV lamp with remote control resides at an office table. The remotecontrol has 15 seconds of lag time with beeps, which helps individualsto avoid directly becoming exposed to UV radiation. Before entering intothe office room, the UV lamp is turned on and allowed to irradiate theoffice room for 30 minutes (i.e., UV disinfection). After 30 minutes ofUV disinfection for the table, the table can be used. A cardboard box isused to construct the UV radiation box. The UV lamp inside the UVradiation box can continuously produces ozone to kill Coronavirus. Theozone can cause damage to the skin or eyes so it is advisable not tostare at the UV lamp when switched on. A used face mask can bedecontaminated by exposure from the UV lamp for 30 minutes, and thussuitable for reuse. The UV lamp is continuously shining inside the UVradiation box, while no UV radiation and Ozone directly impinge exposedskin. The ozone produced by the UV lamp permeates the room to kill thecoronavirus.

Example 16—Smaller UV Radiation Wall Box

A smaller UV radiation wall box can be used when two individuals speakto each other when facing each other, as described above. The small UVradiation box, which is composed of a carboard box, is placed betweenthe two individuals speaking to each other, wherein the individuals donot need to wear masks to control the spread of airborne pathogens whendoing so. Masks do not filter viruses and can only reduce theconcentration of aerosol virus invading into the sacrificed humanrespiratory system. Suppose in a certain enclosed area, one deep breathinhales X concentration of aerosol coronavirus without a mask. Under thesame condition, inhaled coronavirus concentration with masks can bereduced to around 0.3-0.6×. Masks can only reduce the concentration ofinhaled viruses and can never eliminate them. Tt is still dangerous forindividuals with masks to close to each other. While two individualsapproach a closer distance to each other, masks become useless forprotecting them from infection. For this reason, a UV radiation box ismore effective than masks in the enclosed area. As mentioned, masks canonly reduce the inhaled virus concentration to 0.3-0.6×, whereas the UVradiation box under the same condition can easily reduce the inhaledvirus concentration below 0.001×. While using the UV radiation box,there is a slight ozone smell in the air. The radiation emitted withinthe UV radiation wall does not directly shine on exposed human skin. Thevirus killing efficiency of the UV radiation wall is even higher thanthat of the UV radiation box. A multi-space washroom is another enclosedarea that can achieve disinfection via a UV radiation box placed in eachspace. Washrooms are areas that facilitate the spread of contagiousagents. Thus, disinfection of washrooms is effectively halting thespread of airborne pathogens and microbes.

Example 17—The Infection UV Quarantine Device in Private Family Rooms

At the family entrance door (outside), UV lamp emits radiation to cleanthe outside entrance door. Just after every member of the family returnsback to the home, 30-minute irradiation is implemented, as described inthe UV protocol. This prevents the accumulation of coronavirus in theirradiated region. At the family entrance corridor (inside), outsideshoes and clothes are exposed to 30-minute UV disinfection. For houseswithout such a corridor, the UV lamp can be used in the same way. UVlamps in the basement, near the ventilation air inlet, there are eightUV lamps of different sizes. The calculation of the numbers of UV lampsin this region is based on the product instruction that an 8 W UVdisinfection lamp can cover 12 m² static area. Due to the air from theair-condition ventilation being sent to all rooms within the house, thenumber of UV lamps should be enough to cover the total area of all roomsof the house and not just the basement. Such an air inlet UV controlmethod is relatively simple, as there is no need to take care of everyair outlet in each room. The basement UV lamps are used with a curtainwhich at least partially covers the UV lamp. This prevent the UVradiation from directly shining on the individual walking around andpreventing access to this region. If there is a lack of control of theventilation air inlet by UV lamps, then every ventilation outlet isequipped with a UV lamp and a cardboard box (i.e., the UV radiation box)to shield the UV lamp from hurting individuals walking around. In anapartment or condo, control of the ventilation system is critical as therooms share a central air condition. Therefore, in an apartment orcondo, it is critical to use UV lamps at each ventilation outlets incombination with UV shielding, such as a UV radiation box. Ventilationcontrol by UV quarantine should be implemented 24 hours per day/7 daysper week when air inlet control conditions are not well established.These protocols can be implemented, for example, on these other enclosedareas: family gyms, family study tables, family shower and washroom,family kitchen and diner table, family pianos, kid rooms, the bed in thebedroom, and family cars. A virus infection is triggered (i.e.,sufficient viral load for causing illness) at a certain concentrationthreshold. If a person goes to work every day and always contacts withthe virus at a lower than infection threshold, the virus concentrationpossibly accumulates inside the car to attain the threshold over anextended period and cause illness. UV disinfection of the systems andmethods herein can stop the virus accumulation process in enclosedareas.

The UV protocol of 30-minute UV disinfection plus enough shielded UVradiation boxes when emitting ozone can greatly inhibit the coronavirusinfection. Especially for a quarantine hospital, the ventilation systemcan be controlled by the combination of the UV lamp and UV radiationboxes. However, for public regions with more individuals coming in andout at a higher frequency, such as customs, airplanes, cinema, largeslaughtering houses, etc., or for severely infected districts evenwithout such frequent visits, the ultimate UV quarantine method isimplemented.

Example 18—Ultimate UV Quarantine Method with UV Hood in UV Lamp ActivePublic Regions

Goggles and umbrellas can be used for UV quarantines in UV Lamp ActivePublic Regions. In a community of 80% infection, the ultimate UVquarantine method with UV hoods protect the remaining 20% free from theinfection. When implementing the UV quarantine method, the infectionrate is 80% despite the infected cohort and non-infected cohortinteracting. Thereby, the UV hood and UV lamp of the ultimate UVquarantine method are effectively halting the spread of COVID-19 orother biological infectious agents.

Example 19—Validation of Performance of Respirators of the PresentInvention

The efficacy of the respirator described in FIGS. 10-13 was tested bythe inventor.

A system for evaluating the performance of the respirator 100 includes:the respirator, a sampling box containing Petri dishes for sampling, anda pump with a pulse-controlling-panel at the back. The sampling box islocated between the pump and respirator and is in fluid communicationwith both. The human respiratory rate is 30-60 breaths/min at birth,12-20 breaths/min in adults, and respiratory volume is around 6-8liter/min. The pulse-controlling-panel part is used for setting up theseparameters. The system is used to check whether such respiratoryparameters will impact the viable colony counting from E. coli spraysimulation. The system was sterilized with UVC or ethylene oxide beforeeach experiment. E. coli suspensions were prepared to spray toward therespirator inlet (opening) from distance a distance of 1 meter andpointed to the mask. Visual droplets were not attained at the opening ofthe respirator. The E. coli suspension was manually sprayed for 60pulse/min toward the opening of the respirator to agree with the pumppulse. Four plates we placed in the middle sampling box and sealed forthe experiment. After 5 minutes of spraying while the pump simulatedhuman breath, the pick plates were taken, and sealed with parafilm,incubated at 37° C. for 48 hours, and the population on the plates wascounted.

TABLE 5 Capturing Time Colony Counting (Colony/Plate) Device Parameters(min) group 1 Ave STD group 2 Ave STD   No pulse, 6 L/min 5 13, 9, 11, 710.0 2.58 9, 14, 13, 17 13.25 3.30   No pulse, 8 L/min 5 15, 12, 18, 913.5 3.87 12, 23, 11, 8 14.25 3.59 12 pulse/min, 6 L/min 5 85, 76, 81,64 76.5 9.11 76, 92, 88, 81 84.25 7.14 12 pulse/min, 8 L/min 5 101, 84,91, 98 93.5 7.59 99, 111, 106, 93 102.3 7.89 30 pulse/min, 6 L/min 5 96,108, 120, 95 104.8 11.75 98, 100, 91, 107 99.0 6.58 30 pulse/min, 8L/min 5 115, 120, 127, 103 116.3 10.11 108, 111, 135, 124 119.5 12.45

Table 6 shows that, for the same volume of airflow, the viable colonycount for the pulse matching human respiratory rate is significantlyhigher than the colony count achieved with stable airflow: around 7-8fold for 12 breaths/min, and 8-9 fold for 30 breaths/min. It istherefore shown that with the UV lamp off, E. coli bacteria enter thehuman body when sprayed from 1 meter away.

The same experiment was performed again, once with the UV light on andonce with the UV light off. Table 6 shows the results of the experiment.

TABLE 6 Capturing Time Colony Counting (Colony/Plate) Device Parameters(min) not switch on Ave STD switch on Ave STD 12 pulse/min, 6 L/min 592, 109, 81, 73 88.75 15.59 0, 0, 0, 0 0 12 pulse/min, 8 L/min 5 111,87, 95, 93 96.5 10.27 0, 0, 0, 0 0 30 pulse/min, 6 L/min 5 87, 118, 123,95 105.75 17.46 0, 0, 0, 0 0 30 pulse/min, 8 L/min 5 135, 102, 97, 115112 25 16.96 0, 0, 0, 0 0

All the airflow in Table 6 passed through a respirator and was exposedto UVC radiation of 4200 μW/cm². It can be seen that when the UV lightwas off, E. coli spraying aerosols produced around 100 colonies onplate. On the other hand, with the UV light on, have been totallydisabled to survival on Petri dishes by UVC germicidal lamp.

Although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplaryembodiments and implementations, it should be understood that thevarious features, aspects and functionality described in one or more ofthe individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to theparticular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can beapplied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the otherembodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments aredescribed and whether or not such features are presented as being a partof a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the presentinvention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplaryembodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or“an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or thelike; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,”“standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construedas limiting the item described to a given time period or to an itemavailable as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompassconventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may beavailable or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, wherethis document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known toone of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass thoseapparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in thefuture.

A group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read asrequiring that each and every one of those items be present in thegrouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly statedotherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or”should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, butrather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly statedotherwise. Furthermore, although items, elements or components of theinvention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural iscontemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to thesingular is explicitly stated. In addition, when a single callout linein the drawings leads to two or more separate reference numbers (first,second, etc. reference numbers), (and each reference numeral refers to adifferent piece of text in the detailed description) and it would beinconsistent to designate the drawing item being called out as bothpieces of text, the drawing be interpreted as illustrating two differentvariants. In one variant, the drawing item is referred to by the firstreference number and in another variant the drawing item is referred toby the second reference number, etc.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “atleast,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instancesshall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or requiredin instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of theterm “module” does not imply that the components or functionalitydescribed or claimed as part of the module are all configured in acommon package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of amodule, whether CTRL logic or other components, can be combined in asingle package or separately maintained and can further be distributedacross multiple locations.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described interms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations.As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art afterreading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their variousalternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustratedexamples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying descriptionshould not be construed as mandating a particular architecture orconfiguration.

What is claimed is:
 1. A respirator comprising: a mouth piece configuredto be sealingly joined to a face of a user and enclose a mouth and anose of the user, the mouth piece having at least one interface channel,such that air passage from outside the mouthpiece to the user' mouth andnose is only allowed via the at least one interface channel; at leastone lamp mount chamber sealingy joined to and in fluid communicationwith the mouth piece via the at least one interface channel, the lampmount chamber having at least one opening configured to enable airpassage from outside the lamp mount chamber into the lamp mount chamber,such that air reaching the user's mouth and nose from outside therespirator flows through the at least one opening into the lamp mountchamber, and from the lamp mount chamber into the mouth piece via theinterface channel; at least one UV lamp enclosed in the lamp mountchamber, the UV lamp being configured to emit UV light and expose to theUV light the air traveling from outside the respirator to the mouthpiece, thereby sterilizing the air.
 2. The respirator of claim 1,wherein the UV lamp is configured to emit the UV light at a wavelengthbetween 220 and 320 nm.
 3. The respirator of claim 1, comprising a powerstorage unit configured to store electrical energy, the power storageunit being electrically connected to the at least one UV lamp and topower the at least one UV lamp.
 4. The respirator of claim 3, whereinthe power storage unit is configured to store 8,000 to 12,000 mAh. 5.The respirator of claim 1, wherein the at least one lamp mount chamberis removably joined to the at least one interface channel.
 6. Therespirator of claim 1, wherein: the at least one interface channelcomprises one interface channel extending forward from a front of themount piece; the at least one lamp mount chamber comprises one lampmount chamber.
 7. The respirator of claim 6, wherein: the at least oneUV lamp is arc shaped or ring shaped and surrounds an entrance from thelamp mount chamber to the interface channel.
 8. The respirator of claim6, wherein: the opening is located on a front of the lamp mount chamber.9. The respirator of claim 8, wherein the lamp mount chamber comprises:a chamber body; a UV shielding cover covering the front of the chamberbody to form the lamp mount chamber; a cover holder integral with thechamber body and configured to hold the shielding cover whilemaintaining a gap between the UV shielding cover and the chamber body toform the opening of the lamp mount chamber.
 10. The respirator of claim9, wherein: the UV lamp is further configured to emit visible light whenon; the UV shielding cover is configured to absorb at least some of theUV light and is transparent to at least some of the visible light. 11.The respirator of claim 1, wherein: the at least one interface channelcomprises two interface channels extending laterally from the mountpiece; the at least one lamp mount chamber comprises two lamp mountchambers, each of the lamp mount chambers joined to a corresponding oneof the two interface channels; the at least one UV lamp comprises two UVlamps, each of the two UV lamps being enclosed by a corresponding one ofthe two lamp mount chambers.
 12. The respirator of claim 10, whereineach of the two lamp mount chambers comprises: a chamber body; a UVshielding cover covering an aperture of the chamber body to form thelamp mount chamber; a cover holder integral with the chamber body andconfigured to hold the shielding cover while maintaining a gap betweenthe UV shielding cover and the chamber body to form the opening of thelamp mount chamber.
 13. The respirator of claim 12, wherein: the UV lampis further configured to emit visible light when on; the UV shieldingcover is configured to absorb at least some of the UV light and istransparent to at least some of the visible light.
 14. The respirator ofclaim 11, wherein at least one of the two UV lamps is U-shaped.
 15. Therespirator of claim 1, comprising a transparent face mask configured tosealingly cover eyes of the user.
 16. The respirator of claim 15,wherein the face mask is integral with the mouth piece.
 17. Therespirator of claim 15, wherein the face mask is a discrete unitseparate from the mouth piece.
 18. The respirator of claim 1, whereinthe respirator is shaped to reduce passage of the UV light from the lampmount chamber into the mouth piece.
 19. The respirator of claim 1,wherein the respirator is shaped to eliminate passage of the UV lightfrom the lamp mount chamber into the mouth piece.